BJK&E nets £30m UK Daimler task

DaimlerChrysler has handed its global media planning business to DCMA, the joint venture between CIA Medianetwork and FCB.

The UK business, which has a total media spend of &£30m, will be handled by BJK&E Media, which represents DCMA in the UK.

The move follows DaimlerChrysler’s appointment of DCMA as global media buyer last year.

In the UK, DCMA handles the buying for DaimlerChrysler and planning for Chrysler and Mercedes’ van and truck, parts and service, and corporate business divisions.

Media agency MSc, which is half-owned by Partners BDDH, the creative agency for Mercedes’ UK, will lose the planning for Mercedes cars and used cars.

Mercedes general manager of passenger car marketing Simon Oldfield says: “CIA has concluded its contracts for the global buying for DaimlerChrysler, which now includes the planning function.”

Oldfield adds that he is not sure when MSc will stop working on the business, and says: “The exact ramifications in the UK have yet to be determined.”

The move excludes North America, Canada and Germany, but will mean consolidation in over 60 markets.

In a separate move, FCB has appointed Maurice Rourke to the position of group senior vice-president, in charge of client development on the international Daimler Chrysler business.

Rourke, who will be based in London, has moved across from Chrysler Jeep, where he was director of market management in Northern Europe.